Friendship Cemetery, Henderson County, Texas - A History

In the 1870s the Friendship Community of Henderson County consisted of several houses and a church. Henry A. Parker had expressed interested in being buried in the Friendship Cemetery because there was a church located there, and the likelihood of the cemetery being maintained because of its proximity to the church was good. Many of Parker's relatives lived near the Leagueville Community, but in the late 1870s there was not yet a church in Leagueville.

In 1879, 54 year old Parker was putting a roof on a school that was located between New Hope and Jennings Mountain. He fell off the roof and broke his neck. Parker's widow buried him in the Friendship Cemetery. At that time there were a handful of other burials there.

There were several houses located around the Friendship Community in the late 19th century. George W. Kidd and his family lived there, as well as members of the Culberson, Wallace, and Scott families.

In 1880, the roof of the Friendship Community Church fell in and the church went away. In December 1880 Hopewell Baptist Church in the Leagueville Community was established. It would later be renamed Leagueville Baptist Church. In the Leagueville Cemetery there can be found several descendants of Henry A. Parker.

Today the Friendship Cemetery is not maintained. Next to this cemetery is another Friendship Cemetery, also known as Friendship Cemetery for African American burials. That cemetery is well-maintained with over 200 burials.

Friendship Cemetery is located just 1/10 mile off FM 317 on CR 3609, East of Leagueville 4.2 miles and west of Antioch 1.4 miles. Access to the cemetery is gained through the African American Frienship Cemetery and to the right.